Substitute for Fish Sauce

Perfect fish sauce alternatives for Asian cooking and umami depth. Vegetarian and vegan options included.

Cooking Updated: September 27, 2025 vegetarian vegan

Quick Answer

The best substitutes for fish sauce are: Soy Sauce + Lime Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Mushroom Sauce + Salt. Each works differently depending on your recipe needs.

Fish sauce provides essential umami and oceanic depth to Southeast Asian cuisine. Whether you’re vegetarian or simply out of fish sauce, these substitutes maintain that crucial savory foundation.

Fish Sauce’s Unique Character

Fish sauce offers intense umami from fermented anchovies, plus mineral complexity that enhances other flavors without being overwhelmingly “fishy” when used properly.

Building Vegetarian Alternatives

Combine umami-rich ingredients (soy sauce, miso) with oceanic elements (seaweed) and acidity (lime juice) to approximate fish sauce’s complex flavor profile.

Substitute for Soy Sauce - Base umami ingredient
Substitute for Worcestershire Sauce - Complex umami alternative
Substitute for Lime Juice - Acidic component
Substitute for Miso Paste - Fermented umami (if available)

Educational Disclaimer: This information is for cooking and baking purposes only.

All Substitutes at a Glance

Substitute	Ratio	Best For	Notes
Soy Sauce + Lime Juice	3 tbsp soy sauce + 1 tbsp lime juice = 1/4 cup fish sauce	Thai dishes, Vietnamese cuisine, marinades	Provides umami and acidity. Most accessible substitute for most people.
Worcestershire Sauce	1:1 replacement (use sparingly)	fusion dishes, when fish sauce unavailable	Contains anchovies but different flavor profile. Much stronger taste.
Mushroom Sauce + Salt	2 tbsp mushroom soy sauce + 1 tsp salt = 1/4 cup fish sauce	vegetarian Asian dishes, umami depth	Dark mushroom soy sauce provides earthiness closest to fish sauce.
Tamari + Seaweed	3 tbsp tamari + 1 sheet crushed nori = 1/4 cup fish sauce	gluten-free, oceanic flavor, vegan cooking	Seaweed adds ocean-like minerals. Steep nori in tamari 10 minutes, strain.
Coconut Aminos + Salt	3 tbsp coconut aminos + 1/2 tsp salt = 1/4 cup fish sauce	paleo, soy-free, low-sodium diets	Milder than soy sauce. Add extra salt to match fish sauce intensity.
Miso Paste + Water	1 tbsp white miso + 3 tbsp water = 1/4 cup fish sauce	Japanese-influenced dishes, fermented umami	Provides fermented depth. White miso is milder than red.